Multiple end horizontal crimping machine



March 28, 1961 A. J. RACICOT MULTIPLE END HORIZONTAL CRIMPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.7

A/M J. RAc/cor brJ. 600W Patent Agent March 28, 1961 A. J. RACICOT MULTIPLE END HORIZONTAL CRIMPING MACHINE Filed D60. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

[nventor AIME J. RAC/COT by: 6004144114 Patent Agent MULTIPLE END HORIZONTAL CRIMPING MACHINE Aim Joseph Racicot, 9 Drew Ave., Galt, Ontario,

Canada Filed Dec. 20, 1957, Set. No.'704,165

7 Claims. (CI. 57-34) This invention relates to a multiple and horizontal crimping machine adapted to process multi-filament nylon yarn or other thermoplastic yarn, and to the method of simultaneously processing multiple yarn ends to obtain a neutral torque bulky paralleled yarn.

Prior crimping apparatus for synthetic thermo plastic yarn is of vertical arrangement, and generally comprises a single conventional twist spindle through which a single end of yarn is fed to effect twisting of the yarn by rotation of the spindle. The twisted yarn is passed through a heater of the enclosed type to effect a heat set of .twist imparted to the yarn. Thereafter the yarn passes through a tension control device to a power driven take up reel. The process is generally referred to as crimping, and the resulting effect is to provide more bulk to the yarn since the latter may be formed of as many as thirty-four filaments of different inherenttorque. The single end of: crimped yarn is not suitable for use in knitting machines, and must be coupled with a second crimped yarn having opposite torque. The teachings of the prior art therefore require two vertical machines for producing crimped yarn of opposite torque. The product obtained from the machines must thereafter be combined on a separate machine into parallel strands of combined neutral torque adapted for use in knitting machinery. In such prior apparatus the crimping, that is twisting, and heat setting operation takes place previous to tension control, giving rise to aback-up of applied twist to the yarn supply package. Such prior systems deprive prior methods of delivering a uniform twisting and heat setting effect, so that the delivered product may vary in effective bulk.

It is the main object of this invention to provide thermoplastic yarn crimping apparatus from which a product of uniform bulk is obtained, and in which two or more ends may be processed simultaneously and combined into parallel strands adapted for direct use on knitting machinery.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of simultaneously processing two ends of thermo plastic yarn of opposite torque to provide a resulting parallel strand yarn of uniform bulk in a continuous operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings; I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a horizontal crimping machine of the invention in which the crimping devices for developing one yarn product only are shown, it being understood that the. crimping devices may be provided in multiple arrangement laterally alongthe frame of the apparatus to operate in horizontal manner thereon;

Figure 2 is an elevation detail of cam apparatus at I the left end of the apparatus shown in Figure l;

-. Figure 3 is an elevation of the belt driven gear drive azbox'. mechanism at the right end of the apparatus shown Efin Figure 1;

aftent Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus of Figure l in transverse section, illustrating the inherent components of the invention necessary to process herein; Figure 5 is a sectional detail of a conventional crimp ing or twist spindle;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front 'view of the twist spindle mountings of Figure 4, illustrating the manner of activating and de-activating the twist spindles;

Figure 7 is an elevational detail of a preferred form of tension device;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figure l, the apparatus of the invention generally comprises a frame 10 consisting of the end frames 11 and 12 connected by longitudinal stringers 13, 14, 15 and 16 to provide a relatively open elongated box shaped frame. Longitudinally extending parallel spaced apart support bars 17 and 18 are horizontally disposed in superposed relationship between the stringers 14 and 15 and serve as a mounting for a plurality of pairs or vertical groups of twist spindle devices 19 and 20 supported thereon in the manner illustrated in more detail in Figure 6. Each support bar carries a crimping support frame member 21 of inverted U-shaped form having parallel spaced apart side arms or guides 22 and 23 within which a twist spindle mounting block 24 having recessed guide means 25 and 26 therein is vertically slidable. 1

Each of the crimping devices 19 and 20 comprises a conventional twist spindle 27freely rotatable in bearings 28 in bearing block 24 and fastened thereto by the heating flange 29 and cooperating nut 30. The spindle27 has a through bore 31 adapted to accommodate a yar'n end 32 therethrough in the direction of arrow Y. The yarn 32 passes about the roller 33 for one turn and then passes therebeyond in the manner described hereinafter.

According to the invention a single group or pair of twist spindle devices 19 and 20 may be simultaneously actuated by permitting the same to ride freely in their guide means against the forces of gravity on the surfaces 34 and 35 respectively of the endless belt 36, the latter travelling horizontally the full length of the frame 10 and being driven by drive motor 37 and pulley 38 thereof. Belt 36 is supported in the illustrated spaced apart relationship by positioning idler rollers 39 and 40 on end frame 11, and 41 and 42 on end frame 12. If desired, additional idlers 43 and 44 may be provided at convenient locations along the support bars 17 and 18. By this means the spindle 27 of the twist spindle device 20 may rotate, counter-clockwise, while the corresponding spindle of the twist deVice'19 will rotate simultaneously clockwise at the same speed.

Means are provided for simultaneously disengaging each pair of twist devices from friction driving engagement with the belt 36. Thus, in Figure 6, an operating rod 45 is disposed vertically opposite each pair of twist devices and slidably passes through holes (not shown) in the support bars 17 and'18. Rod 45 carries a pair of rigid transverse arms 46 and 47 preferably welded thereto as at 48 and 49 extending beneath each corresponding support bar to accommodate a threaded post 50extending rigidly downwardly from each support plate 24.1 Amanually rotatable cam cylinder 51 is fixed to the upper-end 52 of actuating rod 45 but is rotatable thereon'to dispose the key member thereof 53in a position engaging" the upper surfaces 54 of support bar 18 at which the'rod port bar 18, permitting it to drop therod 45 until devices are in friction driving relationship with the drive belt 36. v V V A general arrangement of the method and system of the invention is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the packages 56 and 57 of yarn to be processed are supported on conventional spindles 58 and 59 in superposed parallel spaced apart relationship on a support member 65) fastened to stringers 14 and 15. Each yarn package may feed. one yarn end comprising, for example, thirty-four filaments of thermo plastic material or other material adapted for heat setting such as, for example, yarns available under the trade names nylon, Dacron, Arne] and the like. Such materials heat set at about 400 Fahrenheit. Ordinarily commercial yarns are obtained having a substantial number of filaments in which there is an inherent torque within the single filaments making up the yarn. If such a yarn is twisted during heating a heat setting of applied torque will result. The thus processed yarn will develop substantial bulk by reason of the random twisting of its various filaments upon release of tension on the yarn. The release of tension to accomplish such bulk will, however, again entail a twisting of the yarn which cannot be permitted in knitting processes. It is therefore necessary to combine two yarns of opposite twist as parallel strands to neutralize inherent torques in the resulting bulk yarn, and for this purpose processed yarns of different inherent twist are paralleled herein.

The present invention accomplishes the entire processing of such yarn ends in a continuous operation in a hori zontal manner adapted for closer control and simplicity.

Thus each of the strands 61 and 62 from yarn packages 56 and 57 respectively is passed through a guide eyelet 63 and 64, and a tensioning device 65 and 66 respectively. It is desired to point out that according to this invention the tension device is essentially adjacent the yarn package, and is of the preferredfor'm illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, hereinafter described in more detail. Each yarn or yarn end 61 and 62 is passed over the surface of a conventional heating iron thermostatically controlled to a regulated temperature of about 400 Fahrenheit at the working surface thereof. The longitudinal members. 67 and 68 supported on the main machine frame (not shown) carry a heating iron member 69 and 70, each comprising a cast-iron block having a conventional metal encased heating element 69a and 70a fastened to the back surface .thereof and energized by asuitable source of power to cause the members 69 and 70 to heat at the yarn surfaces 691) and 70b thereon to about 400 Fahrenheit. Any of the well known types of thermostats may be utilized for thermostatic control and may be mounted as at 69c and 70c to sense the temperature of the back surface of each member as a functionof the yarn surface thereof. The

. free yarn surfaces of the heating elements or members 69 and 70 enable free access to the yarn for replacement thereof in the event of breakage. Guide fingers 71 and 72 respectively serve to change the direction of the yarn yarn packages. Accordingly, the amount of bulk set into I the yarn by the process and apparatus of the invention remains continuously uniform depending only on the uniformity of heating and uniformity of applied twist controlled by the' uniformity of speed ofthe twist devices. The two yarn ends are broughtinto parallel relationship from the twist devices 19 and 20, while still under tension, through the paralleling guide device 73 and pass in close 4 parallel relationship to the take up roller 74 provided in the form of a thread spool having an axle 75 sitting freely within the guide brackets 10b, and riding on the surfaces of the yarn wound thereon on drive spool 76, slidable longitudinally of its drive shaft 77, but connected for drive relationship therewith by a sliding key '73. The brackets 100 and support rod 7 9 therefore are reciprocable longitudinally of the machine. I

The paralleling guide device 73shown also in Figure l is supported on the longitudinally reciprocable support rod 80, longitudinally slidable in end brackets 81 and 82 of end frames 11 and 12 respectively and actuated longitudinally by a cam wheel SBengaging the cam bar 84 (see Figure 2) of the cam frame 85 rigidly connected as at 86 to rod 89. A cam frame 85 is likewise rigidly connect ed to the guide rod 87 longitudinally slidable in guide bracket 88 on frame 11 and is maintained by tension of spring 89 for engagement of its cam bar 3 with cam wheel 83. Cam wheel 83 is driven by gear relation 84a from drive spool shaft 77, the latter being driven at the right hand end of the machine in Figure 1 by bevel gearing 90 operative by gear reduction device 91 (see also Figure 3) driven by the driving belt 36.

The preferred tensioning device 65 or 66 to be used in the apparatus and process of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, and consists of a spring 92 on a base 93 having a separate corresponding spring 94 alignable therein but swingably mounted on a shaft supported at brackets 95 and 96. Yarn end 32 passes between springs 92 and 94 and is restrained thereby according to pressure applied to end 97 of spring 94 by torque spring 98 on adjusting shaft 99 friction mounted in brackets 95 and 96. While the specific structure of this tensioning deviceis known its placement and its function as a twist isolating device form a part of this invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A multiple yarn end horizontal crimping machine for simultaneously crimping and paralleling a plurality of thermoplastic yarn ends and comprising in combination: a plurality of yarn package support means for each yarn end; a horizontal frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel superposed support bars; an endless drive belt extending horizontally substantially the full length of said frame and having a plurality of drive belt portions in parallel spaced apart superposed relation, each being disposed parallel to and adjacent one of said support bars; at least one vertical group of yarn twist spindles, each of said spindles being adapted to extend horizontally above one of said belt portions for driving engagement therewith; a mounting block for each twist spindle; means vertically slidably mounting each mounting block on a support bar adjacent the drive belt portion for the spindle thereof to effect driving of said spindle by said belt portion under the action of gravity and disposing said spindles 'of said vertical group in vertical superposed relationship; a single take-up spool for said vertical group of spindles mounted on said frame and operatively related to said belt for drive relation therewith; and means on said frame between said spool and said spindles of said group for paralleling all yarn ends from said spindles to said takeup spool.

2. A multiple yarnend horizontal crimping machine for simultaneously crimping and paralleling a plurality of thermoplastic yarn ends and comp-rising in combination: a plurality of yarn package support means for each yarn end; a horizontal frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel superposed support bars; an endless drive belt extending horizontally substantially the full length of saidframe and having a plurality of drive. belt portions in'parallel spaced apart suerposed relation,'each being disposed parallel to-and adjacent one of said support bars; at least one-vertical groupof yarn twist spindles, each of said spindles bebelt portions for driving engagement therewith; a mounting block for each twist spindle; means vertically slidably mounting each mounting block on a support bar adjacent the drive belt portion for the spindle thereof to effect driving of said spindle by said belt portion under the action of gravity and disposing said spindles of said vertical group in vertical superposed relationship; a single take-up spool for said vertical group of spindles mounted on said frame and operatively related to said belt for drive relation therewith; means on said frame between said spool and said spindles of said group for paralleling all yarn ends from said spindles to said takeup spool; a vertical actuating rod on said frame for each group of vertical spindles; means on said actuating rod for simultaneously raising all mounting blocks of said vertical group of spindles upon effecting vertical motion of said actuating rod thereby to disengage said twist spindles from driving relation with said belt.

3. A multiple yarn end horizontal crimping machine for simultaneously crimping and paralleling a plurality of thermoplastic yarn ends and comprising in combination: a plurality of yarn package support means for each yarn end; a horizontal frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel superposed support bars; an endless drive belt extending horizontally substantially the full length of said frame and having a plurality of drive belt portions in parallel spaced apart superposed relation, each being disposed parallel to and adjacent one of said support bars; at least one vertical group of yarn twist spindles, each of said spindles being adapted to extend horizontally above one of said belt portions for driving engagement therewith; a mounting block for each twist spindle; means vertically slidably mounting each mounting block on a support bar adjacent the drive belt portion for the spindle thereof to effect driving of said spindle by said belt portion under the action of gravity and disposing said spindles of said vertical group in vertical superposed relationship; a single take-up spool for said vertical group of spindles mounted on said frame and operatively related to said belt for drive relation therewith; means on said frame between said spool and said spindles of said group for paralleling all yarn ends from said spindles to said takeup spool; and yarn heating means for heating each yarn end passing from each yarn package for said vertical spindle group to the latter.

4. A multiple yarn end horizontal crimp-ing machine for simultaneously crimping and paralleling a plurality of thermoplastic yarn ends and comprising in combination: a plurality of yarn package support means for each yarn end; a horizontal frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel superposed support bars; an endless drive belt extending horizontally substantial-1y the full length of said frame and having a plurality of drive belt portions in parallel spaced apart superposed relation, each being disposed parallel to and adjacent one of said support bars; at least one vertical group of yarn twist spindles, each of said spindles being adapted to extend horizontally above one of said belt portions for driving engagement therewith; a mounting block for each twist spindle; means vertically slidably mounting each mounting block on a support bar adja cent the drive belt portion for the spindle thereof to effect driving of said spindle by said belt portion under the action of gravity and disposing said spindles of said vertical group in vertical superposed relationship; a single take-up spool for said vertical group of spindles mounted on said frame and operatively related to said belt for drive relation therewith; means on said frame between said spool and said spindles of said group for paralleling all yarn ends from said spindles to said takeup spool; and yarn heating means in the form of a thermostatically controlled heating block disposed adjacent each twist spindle of said vertical group between the 6 latter and the yarn package therefor, and having a yarn heating surface including guide means for surface contact heating of a yarn end passing thereover from said yarn package to its adjacent twist spindle.

5. A multiple yarn end horizontal crimping machine for simultaneously crimping and paralleling a plurality of thermoplastic yarn ends and comprising in combination: a plurality of yarn package support means for each yarn end; a horizontal frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel superposed support bars; an endless drive belt extending horizontally substantially the full length of said frame and having a plurality of drive belt portions in parallel spaced apart superposed relation, each being disposed parallel to and adjacent one of said support bars; at least one vertical group of yarn twist spindles, each of said spindles being adapted to extend horizontally above one of said belt portions for driving engagement therewith; a mounting block for each twist spindle; means vertically slidably mounting each mounting block on a support bar adjacent the drive belt portion for the spindle thereof to effect driving of said spindle by said belt portion under the action of gravity and disposing said spindles of said vertical group in vertical superposed relationship; a single take-up spool for said vertical group of spindles mounted on said frame and operatively related to said belt for drive relation therewith; means on said frame between said spool and said spindles of said group for paralleling all yarn ends from said spindles to said take-up spool; yarn heating means in the form of a thermostatically controlled heating block disposed adjacent each twist spindle of said vertical group between the latter and the yarn package therefor, and having a yarn heating surface including guide means for surface contact heating of a yarn end passing thereover from said yarn package to its adjacent twist spindle; and controllable tensioning means between said guide means and said yarn package effectively isolating said yarn package from twist imparted to the yarn end by the twist spindle therefor.

6. A multiple yarn end horizontal crimping machine for simultaneously crimping and paralleling a plurality of thermoplastic yarn ends and comprising in combination: a plurality of yarn package support means for each yarn end; a horizontal frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel superposed support bars; an endless drive belt extending horizontally substantially the full length of said frame and having a plurality of drive belt portions in parallel spaced apart superposed relation, each being disposed parallel to and adjacent one of said support bars; at least one vertical group of yarn twist spindles, each of said spindles being adapted to extend horizontally above one of said belt portions for driving engagement therewith; a mounting block for each twist spindle; means vertically slidably mounting each mounting block on a support bar adjacent the drive belt portion for the spindle thereof to effect driving of said spindle by said belt portion under the action of gravity and disposing said spindles of said vertical group in vertical superposed relationship; a single take-up spool for said vertical group of spindles mounted on said frame and operatively related to said belt for drive relation therewith; means on said frame between said spool and said spindles of said group for paralleling all yarn ends from said spindles to said take-up spool; yarn heating means in the form of a thermostatically controlled heating block disposed adjacent each twist spindle of said vertical group between the latter and the yarn package therefor, and having a yarn heating surface including guide means for surface contact heating of a yarn end passing thereover from said yarn package to its adjacent twist spindle; a vertical actuating rod on said frame for each group of vertical spindles; means on said actuating rod for simultaneously raising all mounting blocks of said vertical group of spindles upon effecting vertical motion of said actuating rod thereby to disengage said twist spindles from driving relation with T said belt.

7. A multiple yarntend horizontal crimping machine for simultaneously crimping and paralleling a plurality of thermoplastic yarn ends and comprising in combination: a plurality of yarn package support means for each yarn end; a horizontal frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel superposed support bars; an endless drive belt extending horizontally substantialy the full length of said frame and having a plurality of drive belt portions in parallel spaced apart superposed relation, each being disposed parallel to and adjacent "one of said support bars; at least one vertical group of yarn twist spindles, each of said spindles being adapted to extend horizontally above one of said belt portions for driving engagement therewith; a mounting block for each twist spindle; means vertically slidably mounting each mounting block on a support bar adjacent the drive belt portion for the spindle thereof to efiect driving of said spindle by said belt portion under the action of gravity and disposing said spindles of said vertical group in vertical superposed relationship; a single take-up spool for said vertical group of spindles mounted on said frame and operatively related to said belt for driverelation therewith; means on said frame between said spool and even? said spindles of said group for paralleling all yarn ends from said spindles to said take-up spool; yarn heating means in the form of a thermostatically controlled heat- .ing block disposed adjacent each twist spindle of said vertical group between the latter and the yarn package therefor, and having a yarn heating surface including guide meanstfor surface contact heating of a yarn 'end 'passing thereover from said yarn package to its adjacent twist spindle; controllable tensioniug means between said guide means and said yarn package effectively isolating said yarn package from twist imparted to the yarn end by the twist spindle therefor; a vertical actuating rod on said frame for each group of vertical spindles; means on said actuating rod for simultaneously raising all mounting blocks of said vertical group of spindles upon efiecting'vertical motion of said actuating rod thereby to disengage said twist spindles from driving relation with said belt. 

